Tuesday, May 17, 2016

A Terrible Weapon That Achieved Much Good

EVEN AFTER seven decades, the American bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki generates controversy. President Obama's planned visit to the
Hiroshima Peace Memorial next week is sure to revive once more the
debate over Harry Truman's decision to drop the atomic bombs that
destroyed the two Japanese cities, killing 200,000 people and forcing
Japan's unconditional surrender.

Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, let
it be known on Tuesday that the president "will not revisit the
decision to use the atomic bomb at the end of World War II." But perhaps
Obama should "revisit" that decision — not to apologize for
it, but to reaffirm that it was right and just, ultimately saving
countless lives, ending a terrible war, and freeing the people of Japan
from a savage and fanatic regime.

However contentious it later became, the deployment of atomic
firepower was not controversial in its time. On Aug. 6, 1945, as Truman announced to the nation
that an atomic weapon had been used to annihilate Hiroshima, there was
no hint of ambivalence in his words. "The Japanese began the war from
the air at Pearl Harbor," he declared. "They have been repaid manyfold,
and the end is not yet."

Far from feeling sorrow for having to unleash
such gruesome force, Truman celebrated it as "the greatest achievement
of organized science in history." And he was blunt about America's intentions: "We are now prepared to obliterate more rapidly and completely every
productive enterprise the Japanese have above ground in any city. We
shall destroy their docks, their factories, and their communications.
Let there be no mistake; we shall completely destroy Japan's power to
make war."

Grim Choices

We must frankly face the fact that the front runners in both political
parties represent a new low, at a time of domestic polarization and
unprecedented nuclear dangers internationally. This year's general
election will offer a choice between a thoroughly corrupt liar and an
utterly irresponsible egomaniac.

The Republican establishment,
whose serial betrayals of their supporters created the setting for a
Donald Trump to arise, must now decide how best to deal with the
apparent inevitability of his candidacy.

Choosing among various
unpalatable options may require some tricky maneuvering on their part,
but they have been used to tricky maneuvering before, which is how they
find themselves in this predicament in the first place.

Apparently
some Republican leaders have opted to try to make the best of a bad
situation by creating at least the illusion of party "unity" going into
this year's elections. But the toxic image of Donald Trump can follow
the Republicans repeatedly in future elections.

The careers of
young Republicans are especially at risk of acquiring an indelible stain
by being associated with Trump, much as Marco Rubio may never live down
his association with Senator Chuck Schumer's attempt to create
bipartisan amnesty.

Iranian Navy Commander: If Americans “make even slightest mistake, their naval vessels will be sunk in the Persian Gulf”By Robert Spencer / Jihad Watch

Reminding the Americans who’s boss, as if the Obama administration
didn’t know. “IRGC Navy Commander Fadavi: American Vessels Will Be Sunk
in the Persian Gulf If They Make the Slightest Mistake,” MEMRI, May 10,
2016: In a recent TV interview, IRGC Navy Commander Ali Fadavi said:
“The Americans are aware that if they make even […]Read in browser »

A Jordanian expert is dismissing comments opposing the
peace treaty with Israel by Jordanian House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, who
has a history of making anti-Israel statements, calling it election
propaganda.

“This is a kind of propaganda, the parliamentary elections in Jordan will take place within six months,” Dr. Abdullah Sawalha, director of the Amman-based Center for Israel Studies, told The Jerusalem Post.

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I am an American Patriot...part of the grassroots movement of bloggers spreading the truth the media will not. I am also co-host with Craig Andresen of RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on RSP Radio at: https://streamingv2.shoutcast.com/right-side-patriots